Route of the Week - Route 53

February 16, 2016

ISEPTAPHILLY

Published on February 16, 2016 

This week we are heading into the West Mount Airy section of the city where SEPTA’s Route 53 begins. As of now, the route starts at Wayne and Carpenter Avenue’s and travels to Broad and Hunting Park.

Current Route 53 map 

However, beginning Sunday, 2/21 the Route 53 is getting an extension. To read more about that on our blog click here.

Route 53 extension

In the meantime, we are going to focus on the current Route 53 and talk about some things you may never have known! The route 53 begins operating every day at 5:00 AM and runs all the way through until 2:00 AM. In that timespan it makes 114 weekday trips and 70 weekend trips.

About 2,554 riders use the route 53 each week, with many of them transferring to the Broad Street Line to get to Center City and South Philadelphia. The Route 53 connects with the BSL at Hunting Park Avenue.

SEPTA’s Route 53 also connects with a number of bus routes including: H, XH, 65, 26, J, K, 75 R, 1, 56, 2, 23, & 16. Think that’s a lot? Well, once the 53 is extended it will also connect with routes 4, 47, 57, & 89.

SEPTA buses at Midvale Depot

Speaking of connections, the route 53 also connects with Wayne Junction Station and gets you within walking distance to Upsal Station. 

The route 53 was the first streetcar line in Philadelphia to receive PCC cars. They continued on this route until 1985 when buses replaced them. 

A Route 53 streetcar

Be sure to look for the new Route 53 schedule that goes into affect on Sunday, 2/21.